On Friday, Hokato Sema is an Indian shot-putter. He came up with his career’s best throw of 14.65 meters to secure a bronze medal for the country in the men’s F57 category final at the Paralympic Games in Paris.
This 40-year-old is an army man. He was born in Dimapur, Nagaland. Last year he won the bronze medal at the Hangzhou Para Games. He started with a mediocre throw of 13.88 meters before he hit a purple patch.
Hokato Sema Won Bronze At The Paris Paralympics
He is the only athlete from Nagaland who is a part of the Indian contingent at the Paralympics. In his second throw, he touched the 14-meter mark. Further, he even improved himself with a lift of 14.40 meters.
He achieved his best in his fourth throw; it was his personal best of 14.49 m on the way to the bronze medal.
What Happened With Hokato Sema?
Hokato Sema joined the Indian Army at the age of 17. On October 2, 2002, Havaldar Hokato Hotozhe Sema’s dreams of joining the special forces shattered. While on a counterterrorism mission in Jammu and Kashmir, Chowkibal received a landmine blast that injured his left leg below the knee. The explosion left him and the people around him in the worst situation. He lost his legs due to that. But Sema didn’t stop here. He believed it to be the beginning of a new journey of courage and strength.
Recovering At The Army Paralympic Node
He started recovering at the Army Paralympic Node, BEG Centre in Pune. Here he found the people and resources that were needed to rebuild himself. It was at the time in the Artificial Limb Centre in Pune that a senior army official recognized the potential he holds. An Army officer encouraged him to pursue shot-put.
However, Sema, who lost his left leg in a landmine blast while taking part in an anti-terrorist operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Chowkibal in 2002, achieved his best throw in his fourth throw, He surpassed his personal best of 14.49m on his way to the bronze medal. He started his career in athletics when he turned 32.
Iran’s Yasin Khosravi Won Gold
31-year-old Iran’s Yasin Khosravi, two-time Paralympics champion and also a Hangzhou Para Games gold medalist secured the top spot with a Paralympic record of 15.96 m. He achieved it in his fourth attempt. He missed out on creating his world mark of 16.01 meters by just 5 centimeters. Thiago Dos Santos, who was from Brazil, took the silver home. His best throw was 15.06 meters.
Rana Soman, another Indian athlete, was competing in the event and finished in fifth place. He won a silver medal at the Hangzhou Para Games. His best throw was 14.07 meters. The F57 category is for athletes in field events who have specific physical impairments. Those people who might be facing injury in their lower body but are fully fit from the upper body. This category allows them to compete as well.
PM Modi Congratulated Hokato Sema
PM Narendra Modi congratulated Hokato Sema. He wrote on platform X, “A proud moment for our nation as Hokato Hotozhe Sema brings home the bronze medal in Men’s Shotput F57! His incredible strength and determination are exceptional. Congratulations to him. Best wishes for the endeavours ahead.”
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